In this interview, News-Medical Life Sciences speaks with Bill Kotowski, Sales Manager for North America State & Local Chemical Identification at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Dr. Suja Sukumaran, Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, about the latest advances in controlled substance testing.
They discuss how handheld Raman spectrometers, benchtop Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) instruments, and updated spectral libraries are transforming workflows from the field to the lab, enhancing both safety and accuracy in the fight against narcotics and emerging drug threats.
This interview is a summary of an hour-long webinar - watch the webinar now.
Can you please introduce yourself and your role at Thermo Fisher Scientific?
Bill Kotowski: I manage the state and local sales teams for North America, focusing on handheld chemical identification solutions. I’ve been with Thermo Fisher for about 15 years, and I’ve overseen the launch of several handhelds, including our newest TruNarc Delta narcotics analyzer.
Suja Sukumaran: I’m a product manager at Thermo Fisher, specializing in molecular spectroscopy solutions. My background is in biophysics, and I focus on FTIR and Raman technologies, particularly how they support confirmatory analysis in forensic and controlled substance testing.
How does Thermo Fisher support controlled substance testing across the chain of custody?
Bill Kotowski: We provide solutions that cover the entire workflow, from presumptive testing in the field with our handheld Raman devices to confirmatory analysis in the lab using FTIR and benchtop Raman. Our teams merged Research and Development (R&D) efforts so that the same spectral libraries support both handheld and lab instruments, ensuring consistency from street to lab.
What role does the TruNarc Delta play in presumptive field testing?
Bill Kotowski: TruNarc Delta is our flagship handheld Raman analyzer for presumptive testing.
TruNarc Delta delivers results in seconds and can scan right through bags or containers, keeping officers safer in the field.
It now has over 1200 compounds in its library and features like Wi-Fi transfer, a touchscreen, and user-replaceable batteries.
Our libraries now include 165 fentanyl analogs, and updates are free for the life of the instrument.
Can handheld Raman really make a difference in plea agreements and court proceedings?
Bill Kotowski: Absolutely. Many agencies report that when TruNarc indicates cocaine, for example, defense attorneys often advise clients to enter plea agreements rather than push to trial. We also had a recent Kelly hearing in California, where TruNarc results were deemed admissible, creating legal precedent for presumptive evidence in the United States (US).
What safety challenges do fentanyl and its analogs present for testing?
Fentanyl and its analogs are extremely potent—sometimes even lethal at microgram levels. That’s why both field and lab testing methods must prioritize safety.
Suja Sukumaran: Our handheld Raman allows non-contact scanning, while in the lab, glove boxes, chemical hoods, and fiber optic ATR probes help analysts avoid direct exposure during confirmatory FTIR or Raman testing.
How do FTIR and Raman complement each other in confirmatory testing?
Suja Sukumaran: FTIR is strong for asymmetric bonds, while Raman is more sensitive to symmetric bonds. By combining them, analysts get a more complete structural picture. Using both, compared to a library, provides robust confirmation of controlled substances, whether powders, pills, or mixed samples.
By combining FTIR and Raman, analysts get the most complete structural picture, ensuring accurate confirmation of controlled substances.
How do your instruments handle counterfeit pills and low-concentration samples?
Bill Kotowski: Counterfeit oxycodone pills are a serious concern.
With TruNarc, if a tablet doesn’t register as oxycodone, it’s highly likely to be counterfeit—and often laced with fentanyl.
For cases where the concentration is very low, we use our Type H2 kit with surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) technology, which can detect fentanyl and other drugs at levels below 5 %.
What role do correctional facilities play in controlled substance testing?
Bill Kotowski: One of the big challenges we see is drugs sprayed onto paper or even greeting cards. TruNarc can often pick up concentrated hot spots directly, and when levels are lower, the Type H kit helps us detect them. States like California and Arkansas have now standardized on TruNarc across their correctional systems, which really shows how important this tool has become for protecting both inmates and officers.
Image Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock.com
How are spectral libraries evolving to keep pace with emerging narcotics?
Suja Sukumaran: Our libraries are continuously updated and include dedicated sets for narcotics and fentanyl analogs. These updates are provided free for the lifetime of the instrument. Importantly, the libraries can differentiate between different fentanyl isomers. For example, cis vs. trans, which have very different potencies.
Are there grants available for agencies that want to adopt these technologies?
Bill Kotowski: Yes, many agencies use grants to fund purchases. We partner with policegrantshelp.com to provide guidance, and agencies can qualify for programs like COPS Anti-Heroin or Byrne JAG grants. We also assist directly in the grant-writing process if needed.
Looking ahead, how do you see controlled substance testing evolving?
Suja Sukumaran: I see continued integration of handheld and lab workflows, ensuring rapid, safe, and confirmatory results. As new synthetic drugs emerge, maintaining updated libraries and leveraging techniques like Raman microscopy and SERS will be essential.
Bill Kotowski: And in the field, it’s about speed and safety. Handheld Raman will continue to be critical for first responders, correctional officers, and border agents who need to make quick decisions while minimizing risk.
About Bill Kotowski 
Bill Kotowski is the Sales Manager for the North America State & Local Chemical Identification team with Thermo Fisher Scientific.
He has been with Thermo Fisher for 15 years and has overseen the launch of key safety & security handhelds including the latest Thermo Scientific TruNarc Delta Handheld Narcotics Analyzer.
About Dr. Suja Sukumaran 
Dr. Suja Sukumaran is a Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. She earned her PhD in Biophysics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Germany through the International Max Planck Research School. She brings extensive expertise in molecular spectroscopy, fluorescence and visible imaging, as well as protein and lipid biochemistry to her role.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Thermo Fisher Scientific is the world leader in serving science. The company enables its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer by providing analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software and services for research, analysis, discovery and diagnostics.
Thermo Scientific represents a broad range of high-end analytical instruments, chemistry and consumable supplies, laboratory equipment, software and services that enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Thermo Scientific is the new name for a trusted brand – Thermo Electron – that the world’s most renowned researchers, clinicians and scientists already count on to solve their analytical challenges. The brand is strengthened by the addition of equipment, consumables and reagents acquired from Fisher Scientific.
Fisher Scientific represents a family of global product and service brands comprising a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Fisher Scientific brings these solutions to general research customers worldwide, and through Fisher HealthCare, Fisher Safety and Fisher Science Education it delivers the specialty equipment, supplies and services that customers want, when and how they want them. In addition to these two premier brands, Thermo Fisher Scientific also markets a range of specialty products, featuring well-known industry names such as Nalgene, Nunc and Remel. Offerings include consumables such as disposable laboratory glassware, plastic-ware and environmental sample containers ranging from vials, tubes and pipettes to microscope slides and syringes. These products are primarily sold through Fisher Scientific and our valued partners worldwide.